Expressive Arts Therapists in Albany, CA

Are you feeling stuck on a past relationship or experience? Finding it hard to cultivate compassion for yourself? Yearning for more creativity in your life? Would you like to develop an openness to growth and problem-solving, or a fresh approach to parenting? If any of these topics resonate with you, or you are looking for ways to manage your depression, anxiety, or responses to a traumatic experience, I may be able to work together with you to find answers and new ways of living.

My practice combines both mind and body approaches to support change. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Dance and Movement Therapist. I have experience treating a wide variety of psychological and emotional difficulties in adult, teenagers and children. I feel very grateful for the opportunities to work with those seeking a greater sense of well-being, satisfaction in relationships, and understanding of self. In therapy, I am working in both verbal and non-verbal ways, including somatic psychology techniques for adults and play therapy for children.

Sometimes, the stress of daily life can exhaust our ability to cope. A child struggling in school, family conflicts, traumatic events, major life transitions, the loss of a loved one, friend, or pet, financial and/or medical issues, pregnancy and the birth of a child—all of these experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and defeated. From experience and research, we know that stressful experiences--sudden or chronic--can lead to feelings of disconnection, sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, and conflict within ourselves and with our friends and loved ones.

Holistically oriented, I believe we each have wisdom inside waiting to be tapped into, utilized and developed. I provide a supportive and nurturing space where you can discover your capacity to feel alive and whole. I help people develop and enhance their relational skills. I bring a sensitivity and knowledge to the effects of inter generational trauma, societal and cultural realities that may impact one's sense of self and connection to others. I help with self-esteem, co-dependency, surviving/thriving, sexuality, relationships & developing one's intuition. I help and support individuals and couples/relationships.

Do you feel stressed and overwhelmed? Are you longing for more balance, connection, and meaning in your life? I would love to help you reclaim feelings of leadership in your life and move towards more healing, self-compassion, and joy. I have experience working with adults, families, and teens, especially those struggling with extreme ways of coping. I use Internal Family Systems (IFS), drama therapy, and a relational approach to support you to get to know all parts of yourself, release burdens you may be carrying, and find more ease, balance, connection, and aliveness within yourself and in your relationships with loved ones.

I offer support in coming into greater clarity, connection, self assuredness, ease and peace about the past, where you are now, and where you hope to go or get to within yourself and relationships. If you are feeling stifled by anxiety, depression or overwhelm, are trying to navigate decisions about your life and relationships, are wanting to change patterns, heal from trauma, or are processing grief, loss and change, I may be the therapist for you. I love supporting individuals through these sorts of challenges and more. Email me to setup a free consultation. Whatever you are experiencing, you do not have to go through it alone.

We are all born whole, in lovingkind perfection. But life produces obstacles that sidetrack our becoming ourselves. Obstacles take any forms: trauma in the body, inauthentic identities, existential fears, beliefs indoctrinated but in conflict with one's essential values, or anxiety that something is wrong with oneself. The result can be alienation, grief, substance use issues, depression, anxiety, difficulty connecting, or incapacity to speak or create from the heart. Reconnecting with ones body, the natural world, and with an unconditional community are the foundations re-emerging into the Self you've always been.

Working with performing artists, artists, creative people has inspired me for over 30 years. I welcome those who are looking to make choices that create depth and meaning in their lives. Each one of us has an individual path, each therapy relationship is unique. My work is relational and interactive. I listen deeply. I respect where you are. I am able to sit with you in sorrow and in laughter.

My intention is to help you live a more meaningful, easeful, and joyful life. My Areas of Focus are Depression, Low Self-Esteem, Anxiety, Stress, & Burnout, Trauma, and Identity & Spiritual Exploration. I work with BIPOC/ People of the Global Majority, Children of Immigrants, Queer Folk, Neurodivergent folk, and Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Clients in my practice express various struggles such as feeling unhappy, lonely, unsatisfied, irritable, lost, stuck, overwhelmed, unmotivated, isolated, inauthentic, and hopeless. They are unsure about where they are in school, work, or life. They may use terms such as depressed, stressed, anxious, numb, angry, traumatized, grieving, and anxious/avoidant attachment. They seek to know themselves more or to feel more whole. They seek to unlearn unconscious and unhelpful habits. They wish to grow and nurture their relationships with others and themselves. They desire to feel more at peace, joy, and be able to tolerate the challenges.

Are you wanting to be more true to who you are but do not know if it is possible? Do you often repress your desires and ignore your needs? Does this end up making you feel stuck, unhappy, hopeless, sad, frustrated, depressed and/or anxious? Whether you were raised by people who failed to see you and support you, or in a culture that oppressed you, it is important that you do not give up. You deserve to prioritize yourself and be who you are truly meant to be.

I believe that no matter how difficult of a time you're having, I can help you find your balance and power. I know that rage; shame, confusion and helplessness can make you feel stuck, lost and hopeless. I also know that there is a way out. In my therapy office you will feel safe and supported to unravel your feelings and thoughts, identify patterns, themes, get clear on what brought you to the place you are currently in and make intelligent new choices.

Hello, thanks for stopping by...how can I help? Perhaps, KAP? As a Certified Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist, I work in partnership with Journey Clinical's medical team, who'll determine eligibility to prescribe, in advance of our KAP work together. Or, if you're unsure if KAP is right for you, or are curious about other, non-medicated methods for creativity enhancement, trauma processing or anything in-between, let's talk! For 20 years, I've been providing creative, playful and novel best-approaches to serious issues like grief/loss, depression/anxiety, life's traumas and transitions, to make meaning in ways that work for you.

Do you find yourself at a crossroads or yearning for more? You may be at a breaking point or you may want to make some changes and you don't know where to start. I will ensure a safe and warm environment for exploration. We will move at a pace comfortable for you. Taking the leap of faith into therapy takes courage. We will engage in a process of empowerment to help you feel more centered & grounded in yourself. I work with individuals, couples, children, & families. I am here to listen, empathize & deepen your self-understanding . We will take a look at your inner longings and the parts of your life which may not be serving you.

Music therapy is intended for children, teens and adults who have a strong connection to music, play and art, and who believe that starting with their creativity & strengths can help create therapeutic change. This creative form of therapy uses music in all of its facets. No musical skills are necessary. I work with children and teens who struggle with social-emotional challenges due to trauma, life changes, learning challenges, academic/social pressures that can result in anxiety and depression. For adults, music therapy might provide a richer and more intuitive experience with which to explore and cope with anxiety and depression.

I work with individuals of all ages, including couples and families, to foster emotional health and equilibrium. Together, we build a positive therapeutic relationship to explore patterns and find solutions. I bring a tailored approach to treatment that draws on elements of attachment theory, strength-based therapy, mindfulness, ACT, and CBT. I apply these approaches to support clients, including teens and young adults facing anxiety and depression, adults and couples navigating relationships, couples preparing for children, and parents seeking support in achieving work-family-personal balance.

Whether you are going through some difficult life transitions, struggling with stress, feelings of loneliness, are in a process of recovery and/or have experienced significant trauma, my therapy approach will support you in unpacking difficult emotions to restore a sense a safety and a deeper connection to yourself, others and the world. I am passionate about empowering you to understand and speak your feelings. I work really well with adults in relationship & life-transitions; teens & parents in need of a repaired relationship, and with children who’ve experienced trauma, struggle with big behaviors and/or feelings & their parents.

I support individuals who may have experienced confusing and distressing familial relationships either in childhood or adulthood. This may manifest as painful interpersonal dynamics later in life, and can create complex feelings about "home." I specialize in trauma work for adults, children and adolescents. Our work together can facilitate transformation and create new possibilities. It would be an honor to support you.

My work with every client and family is personalized, trauma-informed, rooted in strengths, collaborative, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally tailored to your needs and experiences. I believe that each client possesses the intergenerational heirlooms of innate resilience, spirituality, and introspection that serve as tools to assist in your healing journey. You are the expert of your experience and I am here to offer hope and support you as you share your narrative and author a new chapter of healing, continuing to grow into your best self, discovering balance, serenity, joy, and connecting with yourself and surroundings.